Eneko Eskiroz secured a 22-21 victory against Apezetxea II in the final round of the Cuatro y Medio de Serie B playoffs, but it was the defeated pelotari who advanced to the quarterfinals due to a tie-breaking points count and a prior roster vacancy, diariovasco.com reported.
How Apezetxea II Advanced Despite the Defeat
The elimination match at the preliminary stage left both players struggling for consistency on the court. Eskiroz established an early 8-3 lead that threatened to break open the game before tightening up and committing a series of unforced errors in the attacking zone. Despite finishing with 14 faults, Eskiroz managed to reach the winning 22nd point, sealing the match with a sharp hook shot by the back-court player from Makirriain to take the 21-17 scoreline forward.
Though Apezetxea II lost the match in a contest characterized by erratic play from both sides, the 21 points he scored proved decisive. That total allowed the Goizueta native to claim the spot for the eliminated pelotari with the most points in the Serie B octavos, capitalizing on a vacancy created in the main draw.
Roster Shifts and Playoff Group Formations
The opening in the bracket originated when Darío withdrew from the main tournament. That absence allowed Murua to step up into the main division following a win against Senar, which in turn opened a spot in the Serie B playoff structure. Agirre initially held the inside track for that berth after losing 22-19 to Zubizarreta III in Villava, but watching from the stands at the Beotibar fronton, Agirre saw Apezetxea II surpass his point total to snatch the qualification spot.
Following the conclusion of the preliminary rounds, tournament organizers finalized the groups for the quarterfinal league phase. Group A brings together Bakaikoa, Eskiroz, Amiano, and Zubizarreta IV. Group B features Zubizarreta III, Salaberria, Rekalde, and Apezetxea II, who advanced as the highest-scoring eliminated player from the preliminary round.
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